Sony RDR-HX525 DVD Recorder with 80GB Hard Drive
Sony RDR-HX525 DVD Recorder with 80GB Hard Drive
Customer Review: Pretty good but where’s the HDMI?
Thanks to reviewer ‘Ricko’ for the advice on setting up. Got it working fine pretty quickly. It is slow to start up but once going is very good. I use the synchro record feature for transferring from Sky+ to HDD then onto DVD. Best to transfer overnight when Sky+ is not being used though.
Not sure what the HDMI interface in the manufacturers review is. I expected an HDMI output on the machine but there is not one. Buy something else if you want to connect to the TV by HDMI. Picture quality is good so maybe is something built in to the machine? Other than that I’m still getting used to all the features but out of the box set up is fine for most.
Customer Review: Sony DVD Recorder
I must agree with the other reviewers. Sony manual is rubish.
The recorder works well and is fairly straight forwards to use, but we have found some annoying limitations with it when used with SKY.
The programme guide does not work with only a sky box - even though the manual implies that it may work. We can’t pick up terrestrial TV due to surrounding hills.
We bought this as an alternative to SKY+, but without the programme guide, the system is complicated to use - my wife hates it.
Also if the kids touch the sky box - after you have carefully set up the set to record - ie turn the sky box off or put a different channel on during your recording - then you will endure the frustration of having only half the film recorded.
In summary if you enjoy a challenge, don’t share your sky system with anyone and want the flexibility then this box will work well - else pay the ?[...] for Sky +.
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Samsung Multi-region Capable DVD Recorder DVD-R128/XEU Silver 
45mm slim designQuick recordingProgressive scan outputChapter creatorLED front panelDVD-R/-RW Recording and PlaybackAlso plays DVD-RAM, DVD+R/+RW, VCD/SVCD without logo, MPEG4 (DivX3.1/DivX 4/DivX 5/DivX6), CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG2 Scart socketsAudio output - 2x RCA Jack (A2/NICAM Stereo Output)Intelligent -auto set upWxDxH 430×240x49mm
Used Price: ?58.99
Customer Review: Frustrating
I bought this recorder, and was initially very pleased. Set up was simple, and actually recording couldn’t be easier. Unfortunately the machine I had could not keep synch with the picture and audio in high quality mode, and also suffered some glitches in the 2 hour setting. I may have been unlucky to get a faulty machine, but after wasting many discs I could not recommend this model.
Samsung DVD-HR753 - DVD Recorder 160Gb Hard Drive - With HDMI 
Samsung DVD-HR753 DVD+-RW with 160GB Hard drive * Up to 270 hours of recording time * HDMI digital interface connection * Black slimline design * 6 Language OSD/GUI * Playable formats are DVD , DVD-RAM , DVD-RW , DVD-R , DVD+R , DVD+RW , VCD (w/o logo) , SVCD (w/o logo) , MPEG4 (DIVX) , CD , CD-R , CD-RW , MP3 , JPEG * Recording formats are Hard Disc , DVD-R , DVD-RW , DVD-RAM with dual layer disc on DVD-R only * Recording time modes are XP/SP/LP/EP/SEP * Recording times in hours XP 1 , SP 2 , LP 4 , EP 8 * 10 bit Video signal processing * HDMI upscaling to 720p , 1080i * Progressive scan output * 24 bit Audio signal processing * Dolby Digital and DTS out * PCM , Bit Stream audio out * Region 2 compatible * Intelligent auto setup with auto channel sorting and mapping * Auto detect station name * 12 event 1 month timer * VPS , PDC timer programming * 16 step One Touch Record instant timner recording * Scan search speeds x 2 to x 128 6 step * Slow step speed x0.125 x0.25 x0.5 * Step forward reverse and Zoom * Resume playback , x1.5 playback with audio , repeat , marker * Bookmark , custom parental control * Time slip and Time shift ‘live’ TV puase * EZ Recording function and EVQ Enhanced Video Quality * Clock with auto set * PAL , SECAM broadcast systems * Audio output A2 mono , Nicam stereo * 2 x scart connections * HDMI out x 1 * Audio output jack L/R * SVideo out x 1 * Component video out x 1 * Digital audio out Optical and Coaxial * AV in x 1 * DV in x 1 * RF in x 1 * RF out x 1 without modulator * Remote control included AAA battery type (included) * AV cable , RF cable , User Manual , Quick start guide , Warranty Card included * Product dimensions H59mm W430mm D300mm Weight 3.9kg
Amazon Price: ?179.99
Customer Review: Good apart from hdmi
This recorder was fine until I decided to use hdmi. Once I had bought the hdmi cale (not supplied) a few days after using/buying this product I noticed a huge problem. Syncing was well out between lips and sound. This only occurs when using the hdmi cable, which kind of defeats the purpose of paying the premium for having an hdmi connection. It was so bad it’s like watching a badly dubbed Chinese Karate film from the 80’s. Using the composite was fine, no sync problems whatsoever. In general it was a decent recorder (I returned mine and bought a different brand) let down badly by the hdmi problem. Like I say it’s fine if you dont use this, but you are paying a premium for the advertised hdmi socket, and why bother paying this if you dont intend to use it? My advice is to buy a different product. A firmware update id not fix the issue.
Panasonic DMR-ES20DEBS DVD RAM Disc Recorder 
Used Price: ?84.95
Customer Review: 6 months then bang
I purchased the Panasonic recorder because it had good reviews and also did all the things I wanted - play DVDs’ ,record plus freeview all in one neat box. But all I had is trouble. From the start the machine would not keep any preferences when it is turned off, so it has to remain on all the time unless the machine decided to turn it self off - for a self check - which it does, often. Now 7 months since purchase it no longer records or plays any disk! DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE - YOU WILL WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Customer Review: Clever but complicated
This is a very clever machine with all these recording options but it takes a while to understand how to do things. I don’t find the remote or the menus very intuitive and had to read the manual several times to find out how to do things. Panasonic’s bumph convinced me that RAM disks were a great idea so I bought loads but then found out they don’t work in other DVD players! Am I expecting too much? If Apple can make computers easy to use why can’t someone make DVD recorders easy to use? Still it works fine and it’s great to have Freeview built in.
